Photo of Sara Tran by Jennifer Silverberg
Sara Tran, designer and curator of Sara Studio, knew from a young age she wanted to be an interior designer – she just didn’t know it was called interior design.
“I remember rearranging my bedroom furniture every week to see how my room would feel if I were to have it on this wall or that wall,” Tran says. “I found myself later building these homes with Legos, and I would sit there for hours doing that. I loved it! If I had time, I would still do it today. It wasn’t until college, when I figured out that there was an interior design major, that I knew that was what I wanted to do.”
After college, Tran gained residential experience before honing in on hospitality. “A pivotal point in my career is when I made the decision to move to Las Vegas; I came across an opportunity to design hospitality, and it’s always been something I wanted to do,” Tran says. “This move allowed me to gain experiences in more areas than just design, [including] food and beverage, which is what I also grew up with. It felt like home.”
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Today, Tran transforms St. Louis spaces – everything from cafés to hotels – with her clean, calm aesthetic.
Sara Studio, sarastudiollc.com
The designer shares her inspiration and expertise
INSPIRATION
Photo courtesy of Sara Tran
“It’s my clients! I work with a lot of small business owners. I love hearing their stories. I learn slivers of who they are, and it inspires me to bring their vision to life. It’s very inspiring and motivating when I can tell their story through design.”
ON TREND
"I'm really loving warm tones and the use of natural products. I like how we’re moving away from grays and bringing in more natural tones of ivory and creams. It makes me appreciate the nature of products.”
MUST-HAVE
Photo courtesy of Sara Tran
“Never underestimate texture. I have always stood by this; I would say that every space needs texture. It gives the space so much character and brings the space [to life].”
PRO TIP
“Not everything needs to be perfect. There is beauty in imperfection. I may have an aesthetic that people like, but that doesn’t mean it will always work in a space. Let’s make your space also feel like you.”
FAVE PROJECT
Photo courtesy of Sara Tran
“Oh, this is a hard one. I have worked on some really cool projects the past 15-plus years, but my favorite to date is probably a medical spa that I am currently working on. It’s special, not only because it’s located in my hometown, St. Louis, but [also because] the client is my talented best friend. I was heavily involved in each stage of the project and am so excited for the grand opening this spring.”
